LeAnn Rimes

Best Musical Theatre soundtrack burning a hole in my CD player at the moment. You can't go past singing along to these fine tunes!

I bought this CD because I am a supporter of the amazing voices of both our beautiful Australian singer,Delta Goodrem and the equally amazing Leann Rimes and to hear their duet "For Good"...but i have fallen in love with the entire soundtrack.Do yourself a favour and buy it

When we saw Wicked for the first time , it was the day after it opened in NY. It was Halloween night in 2003. We had no idea what to expect. Seeing Idina Menzel As Elphaba, was a jaw dropping experience. We just couldn't wait for the cd to be released on Dec 16. Since then we have seen the show 4 more times, and have gone to every Wicked Day.
After hearing that a new cd was being released for it's fifth anniversary,
we were thrilled. Now that we've listened to it, a gazillion times, We can't wait for the tenth anniversary.
This is an amazing cd, hearing songs in Chinese and German is a thrill, and hearing the dance mix, just wants to make you ,ah, uhm, gee..........
defy gravity!!!!

I downloaded the new songs from iTunes since I already own the album and didn't want to have two copies. Also with the iPod I never really look at CD booklets anymore. I'll be talking about the new songs on Disc 2

1. "For Good" is a beautifully redone here with LeeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem. I've never heard of the latter singer but she sings very nice. I could hear this song on Adult Contemporary stations around the country. This version does not stray much from the original Broadway version.
2. "I'm Not That Girl" is sung by Kerry Ellis. This version is more "rocky" with a guitar and drum heard throughout. An extra line at the end of the song "I'm gonna pray that maybe someday I'll be that girl" I'm not sure how I feel about that. I suppose as a stand alone track it works, but in the musical, Elphaba does not believe her and Fiyero could be together at that point.
3. "Making Good" by Stephanie J Block the original Elphaba before she was let go and replaced by Idina, and then later rehired. This song is an early version of "The Wizard and I" (One of My Favs) in fact the last verse is almost exactly like "The Wizard and I." It's simply Stephanie and the piano. It's a great song and nice to hear what it originally came out as.
4. Tracks 4-7 are in other languanges, the music is exactly the same as the original cast CD
8. "Defying Gravity" is a remix is taken from a Maxi CD Single released by Idina Menzel, it's available here at Amazon (1 radio mix and 5 remixes!). The remix is nice, but Idina's vocals were re-recorded and in my opinion don't have as much oomph as the Broadway musical vocal. Also it does NOT feature the adorable Kristin. But if you want to dance this track is very danceable.

Can't wait til they make a movie of this wonderful Musical. I saw it in Chicago August 2006 and liked it so much I got a part-time job at the theater just so I could see it over and over and over again. For me Kristy Cates, Kristoffer Cusick and Stacie Morgan Lewis are THE cast of Wicked.

I just got i just opend itand now i am listening to it it is awsome i thought it would just have the original cast recording and the bonus songs with like one more picture or something it comes with a book full of pictures and the lyrics book from the origninal cd i am very happy with this it is wonderful

Came quickly. Works fine. Only has about 3 songs I like. That's about normal for any CD.

LeAnn Rimes is one of my favorite country artists from the 90s. This cd is a good collection of her greatest hits from that time period. If you buy it in stores, there is also a bonus DVD that has a few of her music videos.

This compendium of hits gives me Ms Rimes' marvelous voice singing in my room and it can't get much better than that. Lots of young women sing, and some sing well. LeAnn Rimes crowds the angels.

FANTASTIC ALBUM! She has a voice that is perfect and so are the songs....super great album...MY FAV...JS

I personally love so many of LeAnn Rimes' songs, that a greatest hits compilation would be useless for me. But I purchased this because I wanted to own a bit of her music opposed to just borrowing my sister's CDs. Funny thing is, I've been a fan as long as my sister has (or longer), but thought that since she owned the CDs, I didn't need to waste my money on them. But LeAnn is one of those rare artists whose music is actually worthy of being purchased. In the future I plan to finally complete my collection of her music, but to start it off, I bought her greatest hits album because I was certain it would be a good buy. And it was. Nearly everything she released between '97 and '03 is on the main disc (except for But I Do Love You and Looking Through Your Eyes), and the second disc has a few videos available. From what I remember of the videos is Blue, One Way Ticket, How Do I Live and a live performance of Can't Fight the Moonlight. There may have been more, but I honestly can not remember. I feel the video disc left a lot to be desired, but it's forgivable when the actual compilation is so impressive. I do love the remix to Can't Fight the Moonlight, but the original would have made more sense to include in the greatest hits collection - that's of course unless the remix version of a song is what becomes the actual hit. I do remember the remix for CFTM playing on the radio more than the original song - however, the original song is what became popular. It's confusing, so I suppose simply including either version of the song was acceptable. The only other minor problem with this collection was the actual sequence of the songs. In my opinion, they should have gone in order of how they were released. Throwing CFTM in the middle of How Do I Live and One Way Ticket was weird, but also the fact that How Do I Live is listed before OWT is also odd. The sequence is wrong all around, but I guess just the point of hearing the songs is all that should matter. I considered that the sequence was done this way to cause the largest "hits" to be accessible first and foremost. For a true fan, however, LeAnn does an equal job on all of her songs, so placing hits first is not really necessary. I also considered that greatest hits albums are usually bought by people trying to get an overall feel for an artist's talent. And so it is a good idea to place the songs most people have heard first. Believe me, there are some really lazy, thrown-together greatest hits albums out there (the kind that leave off half the songs you love so that the label can make more money by releasing a second greatest hits CD later on) - but this is not one of them. I definitely recommend it if you are a newer LeAnn Rimes fan.

(I thought I was finished but after checking out this tracklisting again, I thought I'd mention that the last few unreleased songs are pretty much forgettable.)

Leanne, This album was "TOO" traditional. It didn't have the life and wonder I expected from you. I like your little known B side of "put a little holiday in your heart." I could play that over and over again. Your unique voice needs a unique collection of christmas songs. Sorry, didn't like this one.

...and I've heard Elvis's Christmas album in which he sings "Blue Christmas" like he's having a seizure. I was skeptical when I saw the only religious song was O' Holy Night, which she absolutely massacred to the point of sacrilege. I would be ashamed to put out such a disgusting album. The only song she sang right was "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", but it's still Brenda Lee's song. And what the hell does "What a Wonderful World" have to do with the Christmas holidays? (Though I did sort of enjoy this song in a "Who's that Doggie in the Window" kind of way.)

Leann does have a voice ("Blue" is amazing and her inspirational CD, "You Light Up My Life" had a couple of good songs, so I know she can do MUCH better). There was too much heavy breathing, ad-libbing "oh yeah", for example, and singing monosyllabic words as polysyllabic (I don't know what you call that in musical terms, I just know what I heard was caterwauling). Sometimes it sounded like she was trying to sing in the middle of an orgasm, and I felt like a weirdo for listening.

If you want to listen to "White Christmas", listen to Bing Crosby sing it, if you want to listen to "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", listen to Judy Garland sing it in "Meet Me in St. Louis", which it was actually written for, and, of course, Brenda Lee's version of "Rockin'" is still the best and the only version I've heard in all the Christmas movies I've seen.

I think "Just Love Me" was just about the worst (badly written) song on here. It should have been titled "A Trailer Park Christmas". If I want to hear a redneck, white trash, blue collar "holiday" song, I'll listen to "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"--at least it's somewhat entertaining.

If you want to listen to a GOOD Christmas CD, get Jim Reeves's "The Twelve Songs of Christmas" (which has "Senor Santa Claus" on it--such a cute song!).

Now that I think about it, even though "O' Holy Night" was the only religious song on here, she didn't sing any about Santa Claus either. What's with that?

LeAnn Rimes is one of my favourite artists. Her voice is amazing and the songs are usually great. This album is quite a good one. Well, the songs are probably too peaceful. I would have wished more rocking songs like the opening track "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". The album is not so good as a normal album but I bet it is great to listen to in Christmas time.
Stars: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, All I Want for Christmas

A great mixture of Classic Holiday songs. With 10 tracks (11 with the Target Exclusive Bonus Track "Santa Baby") this album has 8 (9 with "Santa Baby") 2 brand new song she co-wrote: "A Different Kind Of Christmas" & "Just Love Me" (which her husband, Dean Sheremet also co-wrote with her).

I think LeAnn Rimes deserves a big round of applause for this great CD.

Now, don't get me wrong, I actually happen to be a fan of Ms. Rimes. I bought this Christmas CD to add to my collection, and totally wasted my money. Her voice on this CD is just atrocious and annoying, and her butchery of "Oh Holy Night" is just plain obscene. Stick with her regular CD's and pass on this one , if you know what is good for you.

Song Name: What I Cannot Change
Artist Name: LeAnn Rimes
Album: Family
Songwriter(s): Darrell Brown, Leann Rimes
Release Date: October 10, 2007

I know what makes me comfortable
I know what makes me tick
And when I need to get my way I know how to pour it on thick
Cream and sugar in my coffee
Right away when I awake
I face the day and pray to God I won't make the same mistakes
Oh the rest is out of my hands

I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to love what I cannot change
But I will change, I will change
Whatever I, whenever I can

I don't know my father or my mother well enough
It seems like everytime we talk we cant get past the little stuff
The pain is self-inflicting, I know it's not good for my health
But it's easier to please the world than it is to please myself
Oh the rest is out of my hands

I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to love what I cannot change
But I will change, I will change
Whatever I, whenever I can

Right now I can't hear about how everyone else feels
I have enough hurt of my own to heal

I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to let go what I cannot change
I will learn to forgive what I cannot change
I will learn to love what I cannot change
But I will change, I will change
Whatever I, whenever I can

Family is a very grown-up album from a very accomplished & talented young lady. She shows a maturity here that was lacking on previous albums. The collection itself is not bad with standout tracks being the three collaborations (Nothing Wrong - Mare Broussard, Till We Ain't Strangers - Bon Jovi & When You Love Someone Like That - Reba). There are some duds here but with a 14-track listing and 50% being of decent standard, then it's not bad value for money. Production on this album falls way short of what you would expect from an artist of this calibre and becomes irritating whilst trying to listen to the lyrical content of the songs. Not Bad, but as the school-card says 'MUST DO BETTER'.

Leann Rimes is an amazing talent and has established herself as a force to be reckoned with as a country artist with an immense catalogue of work established at a very young age. This cd is a very important stepping stone in her career. She has cowritten many of the songs here and a more mature sound is established.

Some songs work better here than others. Standouts are FAMILY, ONE DAY TOO LONG and WHAT I CANNOT CHANGE. Both bonus tracks, duets with Bon Jovi and Reba McEntire, are also very effective. There is a problem on some songs here though. On NOTHIN BETTER TO DO, FIGHT and DOESN'T EVERYBODY her vocals are strong but her articulation is off and it is difficult to understand the words she is singing. This is apparent more on this cd than previous ones and she must be careful that it doesn't become stronger as she develops into even more of an adult artist.

The cd is not her best but it is certainly very good. And on ONE DAY TOO LONG, already mentioned, she lets loose more than ever before. It is a bluesy, major belting ballad done expertly.

Enjoy.

...better in person than the CD.
I love the CD, but we saw Leann in Boise back in June (08) and I thought she was awesome! ..she is!!!
The CD is great, alive, she's awesome!!!

Family which LeAnn admits is her most personal record to date,clearly shows her continued growth as an artist in general and a songwriter in particular.She wrote(or co-wrote)all of the songs on the cd(which is a first in her career thus far).
The first single off the cd 'Nothin Better To Do' cracked Billboards Top 20 and the video was in heavy rotation on CMT and to a lesser degree on GAC.The song is very original,upbeat and the video perfectly suited the song and is Ms.Rimes best video to date. Some have been critical of the song citing that they cannot make out the words.This is weak.If you can't make out all the words,read them in the cd booklet.I can think of many great songs by many different artists where all the words cannot be clearly discerned. It can perhaps be classified as another vocal style.
LeAnn's live performance of NBTD on the CMT music awards was spectacular.
The best song on the cd(and one of the greatest songs that she has recorded thus far)is 'What I Cannot Change' which has just gone to radio(and is her third single off the record).The vocal performance of WICC is gut wrenching and drenching with emotion and the lyrics are as powerful as the vocal delivery.
One Day Too Long is a classic bluesy song that also is performed with great emotional power and depth. It is just further evidence (and there has been plenty in LeAnn's impressive career)that she can sing any style of music with enourmous skill(as if that was the only type of music that she recorded).There is a good mix of upbeat songs(Family,NBTD,Upper Hand)and slower songs(I Want You With Me,Pretty Things,WICC,When You Love Someone Like That-the duet with Reba).Every song is quality(no filler here).
What I Cannot Change is Grammy worthy and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
LeAnn just continues to get better with age and 'Family'gives ample evidence of that from start to finish.
It is exciting to anticipate what is yet to come from this creative juggernaut.

Others have made an excellent job of reviewing this album, so I will not repeat their comments here.
However, I wish Amazon would have a rating system for their editorial reviews. The gentleman that reviewed this album either never heard it himself, or else has a vendetta for inspirational songs.
If I could, I would rate this editorial review with ZERO stars, and ask Amazon to withdraw his review, for it detracts from the album and actually hurt sales.
Like it or not, far from "reading from a teleprompter", she is singing with an intensity that will send chills down your spine. She is simply being sober with these songs as appropriate.
It is most misleading.

I really have no respect for the CRITIC Amazon let to critize this album you are a loser "Rich Kienzle" evidently you dont know anything about music how can you call something so SOULFUL , SOULLESS? This is an amazing set from Leann....since you wanna critize idiot....why don't you get in the studio and make a CD so we can listen to it....I bet it would so like shiiiii....

Is it just me or is there a studio problem with this album? I can hear a jarring, screeching noise accompanying the music, especially with the "The Rose" track, which makes it impossible to appreciate an otherwise excellent album I'm sure.

The product came quickly. It was exactly as advetised and met expectations. Thank You.

This is a beautiful album. The recording of "Amazing Grace" is worth the price of the album alone. It will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. I bought this album a few years ago not knowing much about LeAnn Rimes and "Wow" I was blown away. Check this album out and I'm sure you will be too. Nuff said.

This Woman, a so-called "country comeback" for LeAnn Rimes, shines with diva-esque performances throughout. It includes an excellent mix of songs, some serious, some fun with lots of big production, which plays to her strengths. An established veteran at 22, she's finally coming into her own with the right career direction.

As for the songs: "I Want To With You" is a perfect choice for LeAnn, the material shows what she's capable of and is radio-friendly at the same time. "Nothin' Bout Love Makes Sense" is a little more traditional, perfect for country radio. I love "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way," a tender ballad delivered with her usual conviction. "Some People" really brings it home at the end. It is bluesy and sultry, displaying LeAnn's unique gift.

This CD is just what LeAnn needed in 2005, solid songs exhibiting her powerful and expressive voice as well as maturity. You don't have to love country music to enjoy this album; it is diverse, and her sheer talent shines in any musical style. I saw LeAnn in concert recently and loved her energy and vocals. You won't be disappointed by this record.

LeAnn Rimes's This woman is a great album and it has a lot of heart filled songs even the discontinued Target exclusive bonus track called "Afraid to Fall" was good (written by LeAnn Rimes; Peter Amato; Trey Bruce) and if you want to hear it i have this url where you can download the song for free: www.leannrimesworld.zoomshare.com
All I can say is after Family I hope LeAnn can make us some more great music.

I am not sure I am listening to the same tracks as the other reviewers, but I keep hoping LeAnn will someday feel "it" again. This CD is a continuance of the modern country pop that has lots of everything but feeling. Remember the first time you heard "Blue"? You thought, I have to meet this woman, then you found out she was 13! What was in that song was feeling(and of course LeAnn's voice) Later, "These Arms of Mine"( I may be the only one that has heard this song) had the feeling again. It may take a few divorces and soap opera like situations for LeAnn to feel it all the way, but when she does the music industry may just stop for a while and be amazed. It is in there and it will come out someday........slickrick

This is a good comeback album for LeAnn, back to the mainstream country that she does very well. Her voice is excellent, of course. The songs are fun and original. Well done.

With 12 (13 with the Target Exlcusive Bonus Track "Afraid To Fall") new songs, LeAnn Rimes has made her return to the country music industry. With this being her 12th album with Curb Records, I think LeAnn Rimes has done an excellent job for 11 years of singing.

I hope LeAnn Rimes will keep coming out with more albums and keep making great music.

I liked LeAnn's music during this time frame even better than her current stuff. The CD arrived well packed, in good shape and on time. I'm happy.

Debuting at the tender age of 13 onto the charts, LeAnn Rimes took the country music world by storm in 1997 with the release of her debut album Blue and No. 1 smash single of the same name. Eventually garnering a Grammy (and being the youngest person ever to do so to this day) lead single "Blue" is the perfect example of what made the young star so popular from day one. Sounding remarkably mature for someone so young and showcasing a modern day take on that classic country sound Rimes' delivery is what makes this debut album such a guilty pleasure. Blue is hardly a perfect listen, but songs like the aforementioned first single, "One Way Ticket," "My Baby" and "Honestly" grab the listener from the start. Don't be blue...get this record. It's worth it.

Some might think this is a really simple debut from a country artist, but some might forget that LeAnn Rimes was only 13 or 14 when she released this album. These songs sound like great country songs that Mindy McCready could've used to save her career later on. But forget about that. 10 years after its release, when you listen to this album it's just amazing! There are some tracks where you can tell she's young, but on some tracks such as "Hurt Me," where she sounds way beyond her years!

This is LeAnn Rimes' first album and I think it is also her best. The music in this album is 60% country, 25 % pop and 15 % rock. LeAnn Rimes has a perfect voice for this kind of music. Also the duet with Eddy Arnold is a good one. The most beautiful moments offer the songs like "The Light in Your Eyes" and "Fade to Blue". There's also a great rock song "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)".
Stars: One Way Ticket (Because I Can), Blue, Good Lookin' Man

At the age of 13 teenagers have to face some hard issues. For example, schooling, friends, awkward feelings, and eagerness. For LeAnn Rimes i'm pretty she was experiencing the same feelings, thoughts that most face, but to place the icing on the cake release a debut album in the middle of all the choas adolescence brings. Rimes' debut album was called "Blue". Blue mixes traditional country with a contemptary feel. The album was a sensational hit and threw Rimes onto the spotlight. Now as an adult LeAnn Rimes continues to astonish and make her mark in the country world.
When I first heard the album's lead single entitled "Blue" I was blown away. I couldn't believe my ears. I immediately appreciated the vocal styling. I am quite fond of the semi yodel she does. This is were my theory of contemptary takes into furesion. The song was actually born way before Rimes' was, and as we have come to learn when Rimes first heard the song she knew the song was meant for her to sing. By adding some of her signature vocal stylings "Blue" was reborn.
The second single off the album was a song entitled "One way ticket". This song is uptempo and had some racy lyrics. For example, the song mentions "I'm gonna drink Champagne". How inapproriate is that? We are hearing a teenager whose the same age as our son/daughter/niece/nephew/brother/sister sing about drinking champagne.
The album has a number of songs that I really enjoy listening to. Honestly, Cattle Call ( a duet), Light of my life, Blue, and One way ticket. LeAnn Rimes had a great amount of success with this album which was well deserved. LeAnn won the "Best New Artist" Grammy. While most of us were in school getting past our awkard phase, LeAnn was entertaining us and making adolscence a bit easier to deal with. For that I am eternally grateful!

...this is definitely NOT real country music. Rimes certainly paved the way, though, for future country-pop acts like Emerson Drive, etc., who wanted to blend mainstream teen-oriented pop with the fading echo of Nashville's old countrypolitan style. It's not my cup of tea, though. (Axton)

When you order online you really never know what you are going to get. But I must say I was very please with my purchase, it was brand new and very reasonably priced.

This Is JustGrat I Feel Like Beeing On That Top With You,,, Thanks

This is an excellent collection of a pop and country songs that just put you in a good mood. LeAnn Rimes voice is so clear and powerful that it will just blow you away. This album captures such an innocent sound and Leann sounds just like a sweet country girl. The tracks "Rock Me" and "Undeniable" are the albums strongest songs and LeAnn does an amazing performance of Prince's "Purple Rain". My opinion is that this is LeAnn Rimes strongest album and is a must for any fan of hers.

Well, you could say that this album belongs to LeAnn Rimes' best ones. There's a couple of hits: "Looking Through Your Eyes" (from the "Quest for Camelot" Motion Picture) and "Commitment". Then there's "Undeniable", it's a great song. After that the songs are so good, well LeAnn has a great voice, so that's one reason. Surely I could pick "These Arms of Mine", "Nothin' New Under the Moon", "Rock Me" and "Sittin' on Top of the World" but the truth is that this album is a great one but not her best work The last song "Purple Rain" which was originallyt made by Prince is one of the greatest moments in this album. You could say that quantity doesn't replace quality but this album has many great songs.
Stars: Commitment, Nothin' New Under the Moon, Looking Through Your Eyes, Sittin' on Top of the World

This album sounds awful. It sounds like Reba McEntire singing while my dogs are howling...truly horrible!! I'm not sure what's wrong with Leann's voice, but her singing is horrendous. I think Reba is a good singer, but Leann sounds like Reba with a chorus of howling dogs. I don't know what happened, but this CD is a mess. You should get a medal of honor if you can listen to this entire album...it sounds that bad!!

The Songs "Its Cryin time again","Shes got You" and "Crazy" are recorded with such passion coming from LeAnn Rimes that is just rips out your heart. They have such a somber and morose overtone that you somehow want to crawl through the speakers and comfort this aching soul. This album is a collection of golden age country standards. Listening to this album transports you to its world from which it came. You can just hear these songs being played at some small diner jukebox in South Carolina in about 1958. Leanns voice is nothing short than amazing and she belts out these tunes with such power and feeling that it can actually compare with Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn. I seriously recommend this album and for the low price there is no reason to pass it up.

I love LeAnn Rimes but this album is not as good as for example "Blue". The music style is mainly country through the album. There is a couple of very good songs: "Crazy", "Don't Worry", "Leavin' on Your Mind", "Big Deal", "Lovesick Blues", and a great Janis Joplin cover "Me And Bobby McGee". LeAnn Rimes has a beautiful voice and she uses it in a great way. This album isn't opened for most fans who like the album "I Need You". Still a great for those who like country and blues.
Stars: Big Deal, Lovesick Blues

I absolutely LOVE her work. She has one of the most awesome voices I have ever heard!

The final track on this album just about says it all... "big deal". On her previous album, LeAnn got the balance between pop and country just right, a mainstream sound for the non-hardcore fans, and enough "twang" to keep people like myself happy. But she was criticised for "going pop" on us... and this album is the result.

Unfortunately, it comprises some of the worst covers of "standards", otherwise known as "songs you've heard a million times before by other people" you'll ever hear. I was never a fan of Patsy Cline, but I'd rather listen to her version of "Crazy" than the one on here.

When I read the track listing before buying, I was really looking forward to hearing some modern recordings of all the old favourites. Unfortunately both LeAnn's performance and the arrangements leave much to be desired.

It's not all bad, however. The final track "Big Deal" is quite good. Interesting that it's the only new song on here.

Don't bother with this unless you're a hardcore LeAnn fan who wants to own all her albums. For a better all-rounder, pick up a copy of "Sittin' On Top Of The World" instead.

What can I say? I love Leann - gr8 voice, cute. An inspiration to a 68 YO guy.

Short and sweet, LeAnn Rimes is best singing pop songs. And she has a passable voice singing rock (a couple songs on the album). She has a trained voice whose placement varies too little to ever sound like the country hick singing a heartfelt country lyric, so she's best singing Celine Dion-style Big Voice ballads, and there are a couple great ones on this album.
Though the album may not appeal to the hard-core country enthusiast, I think it's her best album since "Twisted Angel" (which I think IS her best), and better than her next album, "Family".
Don't return to pure country, LeAnn. Pop really needs a "real" diva.

I saw her on "Live from Abbey Road" singing "Destruction". I bought the CD on that song alone. During the interview she mentioned she is writing her own material. She needs to improve or hire a better "doctor' to fix the songs. No other tune is as good as "Destruction".

I read that her latest CD is "country-er". I generally don't listen to country music, much less buy a CD of that genre. So she's going to have to REALLY improve for me to buy her next CD.

Another venture outside the country genre for LeAnn Rimes, "Whatever We Wanna" is as close to rock as LeAnn may ever get. She sings with gusto and grit on many of the album tracks, confidently soaring from sassy and fun to soft and submissive. It may not be as good as her most recent "Family", but it boasts attitude and confidence.

Most of the messages delivered are empowering and on a whole this record is enlightening. There isn't a lot of new ground covered here and LeAnn plays it safe, sticking with the same patterns and vocal styles she's used in the past. She did contribute lyrics to a few of the songs, which is refreshing. Though some tracks (like the power ballad "And It Feels Like" and declaration of love "This Life") may seem dated, LeAnn's voice sounds smooth and bolder than ever, and her vocals on "Strong" in particular are gorgeous. There are a couple filler tracks: "Little More Time" see's LeAnn confessing her need for some `me' time and there's nothing groundbreaking about it, while "Everybody's Someone" seems to drag through portions of the song, despite it's sweet vocals provided by both LeAnn and guest Brian McFadden. LeAnn attempts to be the good girl gone bad in the pop rocker "Destructive", but it sometimes seems a bit over the top: LeAnn does however have the chops to sing it with strength.

The tracks that are good are spectacular. "For The First Time" is a wonderful ballad sung with conviction and heartfelt realization. "Headphones", with its club-ready beats and killer hook, is the biggest guilty pleasure on the album and even though a few of the lyrics seem awkward, it's a fun song. "Break Me Down" is another sensitive triumph and hits the heart hard. The aforementioned "Strong" is, ironically, the strongest song on the album, with the best goose bump-inducing chorus. The closing track "Some People" (a pop remix of the original from LeAnn's previous album "This Woman") presents a stronger and more assured angle.

This album was never released in the States due to the success of "This Woman", but probably would have faired well. It's the kind of radio-ready music so many Americans love and despite its obvious lack of country style, there are plenty of pop and dance-loving LeAnn fans. It's definitely worth picking up or downloading.

I think I'm suffering from Leeann Rimes overload. She's put out such a bulk of music the last couple of years, it's hard to keep up. This cd I didn't even know was released until I saw it online, and was like wow, a whole new Lee ann cd I haven't heard. I bought it and my first instinct was right. After 2 plays in my car, it had to come out. The songs are just too plain and ordinary, going through the motions. And that whole Bangles sounding "70's folk?, rock? country?" I wish they would just stop already and stick to country. Also, I'm tired of these weird duets and collaborations Lee Ann does with unknowns who aren't even country, and with Elton John and Bon Jovi, oy vey. Collaborate with normal country artists! I think Lee Ann needs to make music when the passion hits, not just to cure boredome, or kill time. It's one thing to be creative, but to be creative neurotic is another. On a postitive note and there is always a silver lining, there are a couple songs on here I love that are classic Lee Ann Rimes. I love "Strong" which is the best track on the cd in my oppinion. I also like "Headphones", and "This Life" is unique as you get on here. "Everydody's Someone" has got to go, that's would be the lowest pit you could hit on "Whatever We Wanna".